System for draining land areas through the use of a venturi apparatus from a permeable catch basin
A principal catch basin defining a certain storage capacity, the catch basin situated below the level of the ground, having an upper level opening for receiving surface water drainage thereunto, and having side walls partially constructed of permeable geotextile fabric for allowing water flow into the permeable basin to serve as a collection for sub-surface drainage. The system would include the ability to automatically pump the drainage water out using the energy of a pressurized water system in conjunction with a venturi pump without the need of any electrical sensors or signals. In addition, there may be a plurality of collection basins which could be joined together as a system to pump the water from various locations through one transport line.
This application claims priority of provisional patent # U.S. 61/271,237, filed Jul. 20, 2009.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,568 Apr. 24, 1990 Hurley
U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,235 Jan. 29, 1991 Hurley
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIXNot Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to drainage for land areas. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for draining land areas, such as golf courses, farms and homes, through the collection of water into a principal catch basin, and pumping the drainage water out using the energy of a nearby water line to drive a venturi. The venturi will be controlled with the operation of a float and a hydraulic valve so that there will not be any need for any electrical source to drive the pump or operate the controls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is in the technical field of drainage. More particularly, the present invention is in the particular area of seepage drainage and the removal of water by pumping, or a means other than gravitational drainage flow. The most common method to drain water that has been collected from seepage or surface flow is to grade pipe to a lower point. However, in many cases, particularly lands that are near sea level or very flat property, there is no open airspace (for the water to flow) that is lower than the water being collected, or if there is, it is such a long distance away that the installation of the drainage becomes impractical. The alternatives to gravitational drainage currently consist of either siphoning the water to the nearest relief point Hurley U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,568, or pumping the water to the nearest relief point. A siphon is typically used when there is a lower airspace available, but it is a long distance away. It can be less expensive to siphon the water to the relief point than to take the water there by running pipe on grade. If there is no lower airspace, the only option is to pump the water out of the area. The installation of the pump requires electricity in some form to run the pump. The cost of running this electricity or setting up a solar charged battery bank can be prohibitively expensive for a small area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention uses the energy of a nearby water system to drive a pump to collect seepage water from a permeable basin, Hurley U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,235, using the energy of a nearby water line or pressurized irrigation system. The energy of the water system would suck drainage water through a venturi and be operated with a float and hydraulic valve, thus, allowing one to pump water from a basin without the need of electricity.
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The apparatus could be made of any material, plastic or metal pipe.
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The advantages of the present invention includes the ability to pump water to a higher elevation without the need for electricity. Using the energy of nearby water systems, either city water or pressurized irrigation water, as is found on golf courses, one can pump drainage water without the need to run electrical service to the site or to run a battery bank. Using this, in combination with a permeable basin, allows one to collect deep seepage water inexpensively. It can be used on flat coastal properties or to collect water from deep hillside springs. Since the entire apparatus is serviceable from the surface with the removable unions, the parts can be installed, serviced, and replaced without getting down in the hole. This gives one the opportunity to build these units to great depths, such as 20 feet deep into the ground, to remove the moving ground water and stabilize hillsides without having to dig a gravity pipe for relief on the water that is collected at these depths. In comparison to a siphon, it has many advantages. A siphon is limited on coastal properties to only being able to drain to sea level. On these types of properties, multiple siphons are usually used to move water to one central pump site. Without the central pump site to create an airspace below sea level, the siphons are of limited use. In addition, each siphon site needs a new pipe that is airtight to connect the siphon basin to the relief. With this invention, the water can often be pumped to an existing pipe that was already in the ground. Even though that pipe may be above the elevation of the level at which it is now desired to collect the water, the old shallower pipe can be used because we are lifting the water with the apparatus.
In broad embodiment, the present invention uses the energy from a nearby water source to suck drainage water in ground applications without the need to use electrically operated components of any kind. There is no need for any electrical controllers or valves to turn the system on or off, or for any electrical pumps.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
Claims
1. A method of pumping water using the energy of an existing water system in combination with a permeable basin to collect seepage and surface water, the system comprising:
- (a) providing a water collection basin having fluid permeable walls and a top portion, the basin positioned in the ground to the level of the top portion, for receiving above-ground or underground water flow into the basin and blocking the flow of solid material into the basin;
- (b) an apparatus consisting of a float, hydraulic valve, hydraulic tubing and a venturi to pump the collected water to a relief point using the flow of water from a nearby irrigation system or other system under pressure, such as a municipal water system;
2. The method in claim 1 that uses a hydraulic valve, float and hydraulic tubing to activate the flow of water through the venturi when water needs to be removed from the basin without the need of any signal wires, controllers or electrical connections.
3. The method in claim 1 that uses a hydraulic valve, float and hydraulic tubing to stop the flow of water through the venturi when there is no more water in the permeable basin, without the need of any signal wires, controllers or electrical connections.
4. A subsurface water collection system, comprising:
- (a) One or more collection canisters, each having permeable side walls and a top portion, the basin positioned in the ground to the level of the top portion, for receiving above-ground or underground water flow into the basin and blocking the flow of solid material into the basin;
- (b) A flow line for transporting the water collected in the collection canister to a distant exit point; and
- (c) Means for interconnecting the collection canisters to the flow line for allowing water to flow from the collection canisters into the flow line for transport. (d) At least a second auxiliary basin connected to the flow line from the principal catch basin for establishing water flow from the auxiliary basin to the main transport line.
5. The apparatus in claim 4, wherein the auxiliary catch basin further provides water and air permeable side portions for allowing sub-surface air and water flow thereinto.
6. The apparatus in claim 4, further comprising a hydraulic valve, float and hydraulic tubing to activate the flow of water through the venturi when water needs to be removed from the basin without the need of any signal wires, controllers or electrical connections.
7. The apparatus in claim 4, further comprising a hydraulic valve, float and hydraulic tubing to stop the flow of water through the venturi when water needs to be removed from the basin without the need of any signal wires, controllers or electrical connections.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 15, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 24, 2011
Inventor: Dennis James Hurley (Marrero, LA)
Application Number: 12/804,183
International Classification: E02B 13/00 (20060101);